Valente, 21, has extensive experience in track, cycling competitively at age 13 and soon tallying 12 junior national titles and one junior world championship title.

An undeclared major, Valente was part of the five-member women’s team that made history earlier this year for USA Cycling by winning the program’s first world title in team pursuit. This was her first trip to the Olympics with teammates Sarah Hammer, Kelly Catlin and Chloe Dygert. The team came together less than a year ago.

The British team won gold in the team pursuit, breaking its own record and defending its Olympic gold medal in 4:10.236. But the U.S. squad of was happy with silver, finishing in 4:12.454. It’s the second silver for the U.S. team since the event debuted at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Valente credits her success to her late coach, Mark Whitehead, who passed away suddenly in July 2011.